Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. – John 17:17
2019: The Year of Truth
It’s the final month of the Year of Truth, 2019, teammates. We started this year with that theme by the leading of the Spirit. And, while every year is a year to learn, grow, and walk in the truth of the Word of God, this year was a great time to prepare for what will emerge in the next decades to come.
Remember our first Team Huddle e-mail of the year?
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BE A FRIEND OF TRUTH
Teammates! Welcome to another year to continue – or begin – your committed pursuit of Truth through the Word of God. Truth is a Spirit. The Spirit of Truth desires to dwell in us and lead us into all things that are true in every area of our lives (John 14:17).
Start your 2019 with the intentional commitment to nurturing your relationship with Truth – listen, follow, and guard your hearts.
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There’s a Method to the Mandate to Embrace Truth
Have you looked around lately, Team? The world, the society around us is becoming a place that does not appreciate nor embrace the truth. This lack of appreciation is growing in its boldness and nonchalance.
As a matter of fact, how many of you have been criticized, ostracized or looked at like you were crazy for believing the Word of God or upholding godly principles? How many times have you heard lies like, “Jesus can’t be the only way to God“, or “We are all children of God” spoken with such resolve and conviction?
Exactly. Many of us have and will continue to experience this as the ability to endure sound doctrine wanes (2 Timothy 4:3).
Some have labeled this rejection of truth as evidence of a growing post-Christian or post-Christianity era, where there is a loss of the primacy or relevance of Christian beliefs and values, especially in the Western world where Christianity previously flourished, in favor of alternative worldviews such as secularism, nationalism, environmentalism, and others (source).
Studies by Pew Reseach and Barna show an aversion to Christian beliefs and the erosion of respect for biblical principles. For example, here’s Barna’s 2019 research on the most post-Christian cities in America.
Whatever the label or description of these trying times, it’s increasingly important to gird our loins – protect the center of our strength – with truth (Ephesians 6:14).
Why We Need to Get Closer to The Truth
Part of our mission as advocates for a unified and victorious Team Jesus is to keep us in the knowledge of the opposing team’s strategies and devices. We, like Paul, stand against Team ignorance, wherein the enemy could get an advantage over us – if we let him (2 Corinthians 2:11).
With that being said, take heed to what is to come in our society and see why it’s important for us to have a firm grip, right now, on truth:
1. The Outbreak of Itching Ears
It’s spreading, Team. Humanity’s itch for “Christian” leaders who will only teach what they want to hear will deepen. We will continue to see ministries “flourish” as there will be less talk about sin, repentance, and sanctification in exchange for the more palatable message of “love”.
We must not shun or be afraid of truth that corrects or convicts. Incline your ears to the Spirit of Truth and live (Isaiah 55:3).
2. Unity in Falsehoods
Assimilation. Group thinking. Demonic influence cloaked in the name of Jesus. Sound doctrine will decrease in popularity, so much so that followers of Christ will question biblical principles due to the sheer magnitude of how many people are unified in a lie.
There is no strength in numbers against the knowledge of God. I don’t care how many people believe it – if it does not align with the Word of God, it stands cursed from the root! As we become the growing minority, stand fast, Team! Stay true to the gospel and reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).
3. The Awe of Signs and Wonders
Many false Christs and false prophets are rising up with signs and wonders in one hand (Matthew 24:23-24) and doctrines of devils in the other (1 Timothy 4:1). Because we are so thirsty for entertainment in the body of Christ and drawn to amazement over righteousness – many will be deceived.
Pray earnestly for the discerning of spirits so that you will be able to distinguish between the truth and a lie.
4. The Idolatry of Identification
The proliferation of self-identification will continue its groundswell as society exchanges the truth of God to champion the lie of “one’s” truth (Romans 1:25). “How do you identify?” “What do you call yourself?” “How do you think things should work?”
The idolatry of Self is not simply an LGBTQ-thing. Many facets of society will be driven by what we think and feel (see below). But be aware – where there is idolatry, there will be a demand for worship. Where there is self-identification in society, there will be an expectation for not only acceptance – but approval.
That’s a no for us, Team. We will not trade the truth of the living God to self-identify “as the Most High God” (Isaiah 14:14).
5. The Increase of Imagination
Speaking of being like the Most High, there will be an increase in the imaginations of man. Man wants to be like God. Creator. Powerful. Man wants to rule the world. As such, there are platforms and technologies on the brink that will allow for the creation of one’s own world – build your own reality. No rules, just your way.
Be on the lookout for the emergence of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerburg, has already announced the coming of Facebook Horizon, a social network where one can build his or her own world and via “magic-like portals—called telepods—transport people from public spaces to new worlds filled with adventure and exploration.” The old social media wall or timeline will be replaced with visiting the “worlds” we create.
Truth must first be real to be true, Team. The norm of reality will be exchanged for false-reality. Be on notice for truth “building” in the near future.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Tie the truth of the Word of God close to your heart and mind (Ephesians 6:14), and consecrate yourselves to God. Deception, as we’ve never seen before, is here. It’s subtle and effective. Perverted truth will become more popular than God’s original.
Having done all to stand for Truth, stand therefore, Team! Manifest God’s truth and hold it as sacred to the life of your very soul, because it is.
I learned a lesson that day, that being grateful is a continuous decision. I learned that if I make gratitude a priority, there will always be something at the forefront of my mind. 
About ten years ago, I learned that I was a Christian introvert. For years, I found comfort and peace in solitude, gravitated to smaller crowds with a preference to small circles of friends versus big crowds of associates. After decades of stereotypes, I realized that I was not shy, antisocial, snooty, or moody. While that was a great resolve after years of being misunderstood, I had to learn what exactly an introvert was. How could I successfully live my life for God and still 
One of my greatest fears was that my introverted persona would influence my ability to carry out my work for the Kingdom of God. You see, as passionate as I have been about strengthening my spiritual walk with God, I had a difficult time understanding how that could happen if I remained in my shell, refusing to share the pearls that God had gifted me. 
PSA: Introverts fit in and serve God the same way that extroverts do! 
I can recall when I first gave my life to Jesus and the overwhelming feeling of not knowing anything about Him. I wasn’t someone who was raised in the church; I did not come from a religious family. Prior to my pastor, I came in contact with a lot of people teaching about Christ, yet differently. This surprised me. I had been under the impression that if someone called themselves a Christian, they believed and followed the same things. Unfortunately, you and I know this is not the case.
As your teammate, I earnestly desire that you be knowledgeable. Living as a Christian is not a beach stroll in paradise. It’s a battlefield. The Bible said in the last days there would be many false Christs and false prophets (Matthew 24:24). It is Biblical that we consider what and who we receive in the name of the Lord. Look around, anyone with a smartphone and wifi can pass themselves off as a leader in the Body of Christ and promote whatever they want. Many are teaching and preaching Christ in error.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” – Acts 17:10-12
So, a few weeks ago, I wanted mashed potatoes with the meal I was preparing. 
The thing about peeling potatoes is that it’s the part of the process you cannot skip. In order to enjoy delicious, homemade mashed potatoes, the potatoes must be peeled. Unless you leave the skin on or you’re making potato salad, ya gotta peel them.
Planning a wedding is a very special season in a couple’s relationship – but it can also be very expensive and overwhelming. Communication and careful premarital financial planning can go a long way in helping you prepare for marriage and your 
When you’re independent and earning an income, it is easy to make financial decisions that do not affect anyone but yourself. However, in preparing for marriage, you may need to realize that your decisions can have a direct impact on your partner.
We would all love the wedding of our dreams, but it’s important to weigh the costs of an expensive wedding versus what you can afford as a couple. Big celebrations with all the trimmings may cost a lot of money that could leave you on a financial back foot for many months or even years after your big day.
The diet industry claims to have the answers. They wrap up these formulas, facts, research, eating plans, exercises, and specials tricks into neat and tidy packages – diet plans, books, programs, and supplements. Our culture continues to flash us with perfectly shaped bodies and air-brushed pictures on tv, social media, ads and every other place, causing a deep discontent and inner longing to love the way we look. 
I know, I know. We all want an easy diet plan that will get us to our goal! Mind work takes time, attention, and getting out of all the noise around us to actually notice the talk going on in our head. But, if a 6-week meal plan was all we really needed to get us to our goals, we wouldn’t have a health crisis in our country. Neither would we hear complaints of fatigue and lack of energy, and we wouldn’t have body image issues. 
I recall being a child, growing up in my parent’s home, and my mother often reminding my younger brother and me of all the things that we did not buy, and with good reason.
As I think back, there have been numerous times, as I’ve grown older, that I “forgot” what was done for me and given to me. Times when I didn’t acknowledge that I didn’t get where I was on my own, but that someone else made it possible for me to get there.
Matters not if you’re young or old, when you can’t swim, the fear of drowning will make you act a plum mess – especially in the shallowest of waters.
Sadly, Teammates, some of us know the fear of drowning all too well. It’s scary, we feel all hope is gone. But, you know what’s worse? Sometimes, we’re feeling this level of fear and despair in 
